civilian

1 of 2

noun

ci·​vil·​ian sə-ˈvil-yən 

also -ˈvi-yən

1

: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law

2

a

: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

b

: outsider sense 1

civilian

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or made up of civilians

civilian concerns/demands

the civilian population

civilian customers/casualties

The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian honors in the United States.

b

: having the status of a civilian

a civilian pilot

2

: operated or controlled by civilians

civilian industry

: possessed by or vested in civilians

civilian authority

3

: intended or suited for use or consumption by civilians

civilian goods

With twin 2,520-horsepower engines and up to 19 seats, the Sikorsky S-92 is among the world's most powerful civilian helicopters.

—Josh Harkinson

Examples of civilian in a Sentence

Noun

The bomb injured 12 civilians.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The wider conflict has killed at least 59,000, displaced 13 million and pushed parts of Sudan toward famine, with civilians trapped in siege-like conditions and vital infrastructure under relentless attack. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

But what has followed has been nothing short of an all-out genocide against Gazan and Lebanese civilians. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

Adjective

The three officers, along with a Roman Catholic priest, were eventually found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 20 years in prison, the first conviction of military officers by a civilian court in Guatemalan history. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

More than 73,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, including more than 1,000 killed since the beginning of the latest ceasefire. — Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for civilian

• castilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion
• billion
• million
• pillion
• trillion

Kids Definition

civilian

noun

ci·​vil·​ian sə-ˈvil-yən 

: a person not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

civilian adjective

Legal Definition

civilian

1 of 2 noun

ci·​vil·​ian

: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law

civilian

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to civil law as distinguished from common law